Automatic hoist-brake and clutch adjuster.



11. '1. KERR. I I AUTOMATIC HOIST BRAKE AND CLUTCH ADJUSTER.

APPLICATION FILED Ill. 13, 1907.

rammed Sept 27, 1910.

%yssa zs particularly to the means employed for operating the bralrmami its OllJtCLS are: to

applied \llll a. predetermined amount of Denier r UBLFED BRAKE COMIAIV Y, OF PITTSBURG,'PENSS-YLVANIA; A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA. V i p I .AUTOMATIC HOIST-BRAKE Ann CLUTCHADJUS'I an 971.377. Specification of Lsmrs Patent: "T'atented Sept.'27, 1910. v 7 Application filed March '13, 1907. Serial No..362,164. iv

ing one end pivotally attached to .a fixed To all whom it may concern.

point- 8, and its other end attached in a like litit. known that I. lieiaienr T. llrzim, a citizen of the United States, residing at i the eountyof Denver and State of (jolt ado, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Automatic lloist- Brake and Clutch Adjusters, of which the following is a spectication.

lily invention relates to brakes for hoisting engines and analogous structures and more hand will gripthe drum when the raised. v The leveril is raised by means of the piston .10, which moves in a brake cylindei- 11, and is normally kept depressed with the. bandgripping the drum, through the medium of an adjustable-weight 1'2 "sus pended upon its free end, supplemented by provide a hoist brake mechanism having a 10 and one end of itscylinder in amanner constantly acting force tending to apply thela'ako, and a fluid pressure acting in opposibe obvious either the weight oixspring may tion to said force for controlling the power the dispensed with, and one member alone with which the brake is applied and for relied upon to operate the brake, without releasing the same; to provide a form of: departing from the spirit of myinvention, such apparatus in which the operation of the l although I- prefer to make use of a combinabralre is controlled through the medium of tion of spring and adjustable .vveight, as a valve ivhich may be losated either adjacentillustrated in the drawings.

to or at a distance from the brake mechanisni proper;' to provide an apparatus wherein the degree and quickness of brake application may be regulated with certainty and facility; toprovide an apparatus of the. class s 'u-r-itied wherein the brake when once the degree of ap lication of the brake can ing to raise the'pistomit being obvious that the force exerted upon the. brake Will be nsight 12 and spring 13. and the pressure acting to raisetlie piston. To supply such pressure I provide a supply of fluid under pressure which is contained in a main reserpower will remain so, irrespective of any leakage which may occur in the system; and to provide generally a. greatly improved form of brake mechanlsm articularly adapted for use in connection with hoisting engines and analogous structures. These objects and other advantages which will here-' iii-after appear, I attain by means of the construction illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings. wherein -1 igurc l, is an end view of the drum of a hoisting engine having my improvement applied thereto, the brake cylinder and controlling valve being shown in section for the purpz "o of illustration. Fig. .2 is a transvr Ftgilflll of the form of operating valve in Fig. 1', and its connections. Fig. 3

by means of a system of piping and valves to be present-1y described, to the space in the cylinder 11 below the piston 10.

The main reservoir H'may he charged from any'dcsircd source of supply operated either from the hoist itself or independently, and is provided with a pipe 15,' leading into a controlling valve mechanism 16, which in turn is connected by a ipe 17 to thecylvided with a pipe '19, connectedto the controlling valve 16 and chamber 21 at the outer face of the-piston 22.

The'controlling valve 16 comprises a body l l u i is a sxtional view taken atright angles to l the above; of a. slightly modified form of'l' operating valve, and, Figs. at and 5 are plan 1 views of the valve seat; and valve. respecl tivelv, of the valve shown '.n Fig. 3. In the practice of my invention I provide a brake mechanism. such for instance as that l shown in Fig. 1, consisting of a brake drum 6, acted upon by an encircling band 7, havin which is fitted a. piston 22, said chamber being preferably provided with an additional chamber 20 connected thereto through pipe 23. The object of the additional chamber 20 is to provide an increased volume of s es M N E f 'HERBERT IT. .HERERJ, 01: DENVER, COlLQIUiIDO. ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTINGHOUSE V to codperate with the weigh 12, and as will From the foregoing it will be seen that be controlled by t to amount of pressure act-' portion provided at one end witlra cylindri-- lchamber 91 communicating with pipe Q19,

manner to an, operating lever 9, so that the lever 15. I depressed and be released when the lever is a spring 13 interposed between the piston voir 14, which may be delivered as desired, Y

inder 11. The pipe 15 is also connected to the operating-valve 18, which latter ispro 80 equal to the dii'lerence between the combined be compressed and will always aid to move fluid under pressure on one side of the pis- Iv formed in the isk 26. The chamber is also connected on its lower side to the cylinder 11 by means of a pipe 17, and. is also connected to the atmosphere b means of the ports 28 arranged to be opene and closed by a slide valve 29, which latter is operated by the movement of the piston22. The chamber 25 is further provided with a port 30 opening into a valve chest 31 which in turn is in open communication with the main reservoir by means of the pipe 15. The port 30 is opened and closed by means of a slide valve 32, which "is operated coincidently with the movement of the piston 22, and the stem 24 to which it is connected by means of a pin 33. The stem 2is provided uponiits rear end with a spring stop device 34:, so arranged that when the piston 22 is moved toward the right, the spring will i s the piston to the leftooiucidently with any reduction of pressure in the pipe 19 and its connections. The casing of the operating valve 18 in addition to the connections for j the pipes 15 and 19, is provided with an ex-' haust opening 19, to the -atmosphere, and the valve is provided with a series of admission ports I) of varying size, and a like series of exhaust portscas will be see by reference to Fig. 2, in order to control the admission and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from the operating mechanism, and thereby more readily manipulate the brake at a predetermined pressure.

The operationof my device is as follows:

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig.1 with the operating valve 18 in the lap position, it will be seen that the cylinder 11 below the piston 10, is open to 1 the atmosphere'through pipe 17 and port 28,

and consequently the brake will be applied with full force, due to the acticnof spring 13 and weight 12. If the operating valve is now shifted to the first admission position, as shown in Fig. 2, communication will be established between the main reservoir 14 and the chamberv 21, upon the left side of piston 22', untilsullicient pressure has no cuumlated to shift the piston 22 to the right, which will compress spring 34, close exhaust poi-B28, and establish communication between the main. reservoir 14 and the brake cylinder 11, through pipe 15, valve chest 31, port 30, chamber 25 and pipe 17, and the brake will be released to an extent depending upoti the amount of pressure admitted to chamber 21. .\Vhen operating valve 18.

is again placed in the lap position and the pressure ias equalized upon opposite sides will shift piston 22' a suiiicient distance ofpiston 22, through port 27, the spring 31 7 toward the left to cause valve 32 to close 1 port 30 without opening ports 28 to the atmosphere, I,n this position of the parts it will be seen what the amount of pressure in the brake cylinder 11 will be substantially the same as that in the chamber 21 on the leftof the piston 22, and consequently the brake piston 10 wiliremain in the position to which it has been shifted and the brakes remain partially released. If any leakage should occur in the pipes or connections,- which would cause a reduction of pressure in thelatter, and consequent increased applications of the brake,therewill also occur-a reduc tion of pressure in chamber 25, and, by reason I of port 27, in chamber 21 on the right of the piston 22, which will cause the latter to move to the right, opening port 30 as before, and admitting pressure direct from the main reservoir 1-1 to the brakecylinder 11, thus maintaining at all times a-constant pressure when desired in the brake cylinder irre-" spective of any leakage which may occur, and it will thus be seen that by providing a series of different sized admission ports I) a in the operating valve 18, any desired operation may be obtained in the brake cylinder '11, and certain pressure having been estab lished and the valve placed on lap the said ressure will be automatically maintained y the controlling valve 16. 1 When it is desired to'reduce the pressure in cylinder 11 and thereby apply the brake, the operating valve 18 is shiited to the first exhaust position, in which position the small release port a will register with pipe opening 19 and exhaust port '19, and the desired reduction of pressure therein is effected, the control valve being then turned to lap position to cut off further release of air. The

piston-22 and valve 29-thereupon move toward the left a suilicient distance to open the ports 28 to the atmosphere, thus reducing the. pres-sum in l'nake cylinder ]1 and chamber 25 until it is equal upon each side of the piston 22. Should the pressure-"in chamber 25-fall below that in chamber 21 on the leftof the piston 22, the piston will move toward the right, closing ports 28 and thus cutting oil communication between chamber 25 and the atmosphere. It will thus I be seen that by providing aseries of different sized release ports as shown in Fig. the brake may be thrown off quickly or slowly and the degree of application of-the brake drum may be regulated to a niccty at the will of the operator.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 I have shown a slightly modified form of operating valvegwhich will more readily permit of the use of a plurality 7 with connections for the pipes and 19,

and an exhaustopening l9 which register. with the parts in the valve in a manner similar to the construction illustrated in Fig. 2.

While I have shown two forms of operat ing valve, it will be ohvionsthat any other form of valve suitable to the purpose, may he used, nor do I limit myself tothe particular form of leverage shown, as various forms ofbrake levers maybe used in connection with the br'alre and cylinder with: out departing from the nature ofrny invention.

By reference to the foregoing it will be seen that in my improved apparatus the operator may at all times, by increasing or dc creasing the pressure in chamber 91, on the left side of piston 22', through the medium of valve 18, partially orwholly release or apply the brake with any degree of power. as the mver acting. to operate the piston 10 will e approximately the same as that existing in that portion of chamber 21 above referred to. It will also be seen t at when the brake is once set it- Will be maintained automatically until the operator chooses either to in crease, decrease or release it, and further- 'lating the lever 9. device will readily occur to those familiar more, if any accident happens to the piping or connections carrying the pressure, the brake will be set instantaneously and with a iaxinnun amount of power and also that the. hrrlze may he released by hand manipu- Other advantages of the with the art.

Having thus desrribcd my invention and illu trated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following:

1. In a hoist brake, the combination with a spring tending to apply the Brake, of ahrake cylinder and a piston therein operated by fluid under pressure to oppose the spring, and means fornormally maintaining a predetermined degree of pressure in the brake cylinder. 1 r

2. In a hoist brake, the combination with a spring for applying the brake, of a brakeylindcr and a piston therein operated by lluid under pressure. tooppose the spring. and means operating upon a redu tion in fluid pressure to release air from said brake cylinder and cause the spring to apply the bra he.

a spring for-applying the'hrakes, of a. brake cylinder and a iston therein, operating upon HdIlllSSll *1 al fluid pressure to oppose the spring,ancl a valve mechanism ooerated byvariatlous in fluid pressure and su ject to the opposing pressure ofthe brake cylinder for governing the admission and release of fluid under pressure to and from the brake cylinder. 7 v 1 .4. A hoist brake mechanism comprising in combination, a source of air pressure, an opcrating valve connected thereto, a brake cyl-- inder and piston, and a pressure controlling means having connections tothe source of air pressure direct to the operating valve, and to the brake cylinder, and adapted to automatically maintain a constant pressure 1n the brake cylinder, to hold the brakes released.

5. A hoist brake mechanism'comprising in combination, a sourceof air pressure, an operating valve connected thereto, a brake cylindcr and piston, and a pressure controlling valve having connections to the source of air pressure direct, to the operating valve, and to the brakecylinder, and adapted to auto matically maintain a constant pressure in the brake cylinder, when the. operatin valve is in the lap position to hold the bra es released.

,6. A hoist. brake mechanismcomprising in pressure controlling valve having connee-.

tions to the source of air pressure, to the operating valve and to the brake cylinder,

and adapted to be controlled by the operating valve and autonnitically maintain a con-. ,stant pressurein the brake cylinder to hold the brakes released when the operating valve is in the lap position.

7. A hoist brake mechanism comprising in comhination a hoist drum, :1 brahempplied thereto, a piston operatively connected to said brake on the drum, means normally acting to apply thebrake and fluid pressure mechanism for controlling the pressure acting on the pistoniuopposition to the braking force.

A hoist brake mechanism comprising in combination, a brake, yielding means for normally applying-a constant pressure to the brake, a pressure operated piston operating in opposition to said yielding means, and means for variably controlling the pressure behind the piston whereby the braking force may be varied. Y

' 9. 'ihe combination with a hralto, of a yielding means for normally applying a constant pressure thereto, a prcssureioperated piston operating in opposition to said yielding means, a reservoir for sppplying 3. In a hoist brake, the combination with pressure to the piston, and controlling means intermediate said piston and reservoir for varying the pressure on the pistonand automatically maintaining it at, the desired amount. I

10. The combination with a brake, of a 'yieldingnieans for normally applying a;

constantpre'ssn'r'e thereto, a pressure operatcd piston operating in oppositiontosaid yielding means, a main reservoir for supplying pressure to the piston, a casing pro- \ided with a controlling valve andpiston intermediate said brake piston and main,

reservoir, :1 connection between the main reservoir and easing on one side of the con trolling piston, together with an air operting valve located in said connect-ion,where-- by a predetermined amount-ofpressure may be applied to shift the controlling piston,'

.and resilient means for shifting saidlpiston in the opposite direction iwhen the pressure has equalized upon each of its sides.

11. A hoist brake mechanism comprising in combination a hoist drum, a. brake a plicd thereto a brake piston operative y connected to said brake, a source of fluid pressure and a valve mechanism for con- 1 t-rollin the supply of fluid to said piston,

and adhpted to automatically maintain the pressure acting on said piston constantly at any desired degree.

12. In a'hoist. brake, the combination with inezins adapted to exert. pressu e for applying the brake, of a piston actuated by 1 mid under pressure for exert-big a counter pressure tending to release the brake, and a valve meehanism, for'mainteining a predeterminedconstant degree of fluid pzessure on said piston. e r

13. In a hoist brake, the eombinationwith means tending to apply the brake; of a. pis- 7 ten the admission of thud under pressure to which tends to release the brake and a valve mechanism for varying the fluid pressure on said piston to'gradnally apply and release the brakes. H i

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two i subscribed witnesses.

- HERBERT T. HERB. itnesses! is H. A. CO'\\'A R. B. Minnm'. 

